Everything Apocrypha - 1 Maccabees
1 Maccabees Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
1Mac 11:1
And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like
the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went
about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to
his own.
1Mac 11:2
Whereupon he took his journey into Spain in peaceable manner,
so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king
Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his
brother in law.
1Mac 11:3
Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one
of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.
1Mac 11:4
And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed him the temple
of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that
were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them
that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them
by the way where he should pass.
1Mac 11:5
Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the
intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.
1Mac 11:6
Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where
they saluted one another, and lodged.
1Mac 11:7
Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the
river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.
1Mac 11:8
King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the
cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined
wicked counsels against Alexander.
1Mac 11:9
Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king Demetrius, saying,
Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my
daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy
father's kingdom:
1Mac 11:10
For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought
to slay me.
1Mac 11:11
Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his
kingdom.
1Mac 11:12
Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to
Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was
openly known.
1Mac 11:13
Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns
upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.
1Mac 11:14
In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because
those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.
1Mac 11:15
But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him:
whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with
a mighty power, and put him to flight.
1Mac 11:16
So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king
Ptolemee was exalted:
1Mac 11:17
For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent
it unto Ptolemee.
1Mac 11:18
King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that
were in the strong holds were slain one of another.
1Mac 11:19
By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and
seventh year.
1Mac 11:20
At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in
Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many
engines of war against it.
1Mac 11:21
Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went
unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,
1Mac 11:22
Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately
removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he
should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him
at Ptolemais in great haste.
1Mac 11:23
Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to
besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel
and the priests, and put himself in peril;
1Mac 11:24
And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents
besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found
favour in his sight.
1Mac 11:25
And though certain ungodly men of the people had made
complaints against him,
1Mac 11:26
Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done
before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,
1Mac 11:27
And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the
honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his
chief friends.
1Mac 11:28
Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free
from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of
Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.
1Mac 11:29
So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all
these things after this manner:
1Mac 11:30
King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation
of the Jews, sendeth greeting:
1Mac 11:31
We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto
our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.
1Mac 11:32
King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:
1Mac 11:33
We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who
are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their
good will toward us.
1Mac 11:34
Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea,
with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem,
that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all
things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in
Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of
them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of
trees.
1Mac 11:35
And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes
and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the
crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them
all for their relief.
1Mac 11:36
And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for
ever.
1Mac 11:37
Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and
let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount
in a conspicuous place.
1Mac 11:38
After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet
before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent
away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain
bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the
heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.
1Mac 11:39
Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's
part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against
Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up
Antiochus the young son of Alexander,
1Mac 11:40
And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus,
that he might reign in his father's stead: he told him therefore
all that Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were at
enmity with him, and there he remained a long season.
1Mac 11:41
In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he
would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also
in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.
1Mac 11:42
So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do
this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour thee and
thy nation, if opportunity serve.
1Mac 11:43
Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help
me; for all my forces are gone from me.
1Mac 11:44
Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto
Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad
of their coming.
1Mac 11:45
Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves
together into the midst of the city, to the number of an hundred
and twenty thousand men, and would have slain the king.
1Mac 11:46
Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city
kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.
1Mac 11:47
Then the king called to the Jews for help, who came unto him
all at once, and dispersing themselves through the city slew
that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand.
1Mac 11:48
Also they set fire on the city, and gat many spoils that day,
and delivered the king.
1Mac 11:49
So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city
as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore they made
supplication to the king, and cried, saying,
1Mac 11:50
Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and
the city.
1Mac 11:51
With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and
the Jews were honoured in the sight of the king, and in the
sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to
Jerusalem, having great spoils.
1Mac 11:52
So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the
land was quiet before him.
1Mac 11:53
Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake, and
estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him
according to the benefits which he had received of him, but
troubled him very sore.
1Mac 11:54
After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child
Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.
1Mac 11:55
Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom
Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who
turned his back and fled.
1Mac 11:56
Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.
1Mac 11:57
At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I
confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over
the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
1Mac 11:58
Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and
gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple,
and to wear a golden buckle.
1Mac 11:59
His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called
The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.
1Mac 11:60
Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities
beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered
themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to
Ascalon, they of the city met him honourably.
1Mac 11:61
From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out;
wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof
with fire, and spoiled them.
1Mac 11:62
Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan,
he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men
for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the
country unto Damascus.
1Mac 11:63
Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to
Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to
remove him out of the country,
1Mac 11:64
He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the
country.
1Mac 11:65
Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a
long season, and shut it up:
1Mac 11:66
But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted
them, and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and
set a garrison in it.
1Mac 11:67
As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of
Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to
the plain of Nasor.
1Mac 11:68
And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain,
who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came
themselves over against him.
1Mac 11:69
So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and
joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side fled;
1Mac 11:70
Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias
the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of
the host.
1Mac 11:71
Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head,
and prayed.
1Mac 11:72
Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight,
and so they ran away.
1Mac 11:73
Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned
again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even unto
their own tents, and there they camped.
1Mac 11:74
So there were slain of the heathen that day about three
thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.